Press Release

[Hong Kong, 23 February 2021] The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) will showcase a portfolio of its cutting-edge 5G technologies at the MWC Shanghai 2021 which opens today.

Adopting the theme of “Connected 5G for Impact”, ASTRI will demonstrate its technologies and innovations that enhance the competitive strength of enterprises in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and around the world. These technologies include:

• 5G O-RAN x86 Solution
• 5G O-RAN ARM Solution
• 5G Industrial IoT
• 5G OpenUPF
• 5G SA Core Network
• 5G Smart City Infrastructure
• 5G Smart Mobility – Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) Pilot in Hong Kong

MWC Shanghai 2021 is a three-day event hosted by the GSMA. It is one of Asia’s largest and most influential Information and Communications Technology events, showcasing and exploring the impact of next-generation technologies across a variety of industries, as well as trends in the market. This year’s event will focus on how technology and connectivity can lead the global recovery.

Dr Justin Chuang, Vice-President, Communications Technologies at ASTRI, said: “We have been working with various industry partners to ensure our technology and innovation always meet the industry needs. Our latest 5G technology and network solutions realise new application scenarios including private networks, Internet of Vehicles, industrial internet and mobile platform cloudification. We are delighted to showcase our technology and our innovation together with our partners at MWC Shanghai 2021.”

ASTRI’s 5G O-RAN Solution is an end-to-end 5G network solution which complies with 3GPP standards and, through its flexibility, is low cost and easy to deploy, removing a traditional cost barrier to the industry looking to make the most of the 5G network. ASTRI’s O-RAN DU (Distributed Unit) Software supports (1) x86 platform for high performance macro/micro cells and (2) ARM platform for indoor/outdoor low power base stations.

ASTRI’s 5G Industrial IoT applications include the development of simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM) and robot navigation software running over a 5G network with industrial Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs).

China Mobile’s 5G OpenUPF (User Plane Function) will enable open and flexible 5G deployment in network edge and drive vertical applications. ASTRI is one of the first members who joined the OpenUPF initiative.

Intel and ASTRI have been working closely in 5G technology development, including 5G core network, O-RAN development, 5G OpenUPF, and V2X infrastructure technology. The two parties have worked together to optimise software and hardware to enable scalable 5G UPF, and successfully delivered a ground-breaking performance of more than 1Tbps 5G UPF data throughput in 2020.

ASTRI’s 5G Smart City Infrastructure solutions support Smart City applications through the integration of 5G networks, sensors and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. They utilise 5G’s high bandwidth capability to support high-resolution sensors such as video and LiDAR, and Edge computing to process and aggregate time-spatial data to bridge between the physical and virtual world. At MWC Shanghai 2021, ASTRI showcases how the 5G Smart City Infrastructure deployed in the Hong Kong Science Park supports various application scenarios such as smart mobility.

ASTRI is committed to advancing the adoption of C-V2X technologies in Hong Kong. To study and understand the application scenarios of C-V2X technologies on Hong Kong’s roads, and also the methodology to plan for the network and infrastructure required, ASTRI has been in close discussion with the Hong Kong Transport Department since November 2019. With the support from the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) of the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC), ASTRI is conducting further research on C-V2X technologies. At MWC Shanghai, ASTRI will introduce the project to visitors.

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Captions:

ASTRI expert Mr Su Dongzhe (right) introduces the institute’s cutting-edge 5G technologies to visitors at the MWC Shanghai 2021.

[Hong Kong, 8 January 2021] The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) has announced that its Chief Executive Officer Hugh Chow will step down upon completion of three years of service on 14 January 2021.

ASTRI Chairman Ir Sunny Lee Wai-kwong, JP, recognised the achievements made under Mr Chow’s stewardship. “I would like to most sincerely thank Hugh for his exceptional contribution to ASTRI over the past three years, and the results are plain to see,” said Mr Lee. “Under Hugh’s leadership, ASTRI had 153 patents granted, 144 technologies transferred to the industry and 279 projects undertaken.”

Mr Lee continued: “Hugh, supported by his team, has successfully focused ASTRI’s efforts to contributing to Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem, strengthening our collaboration with the industry, and promoting its thought leadership position. I wish Hugh all the best in his future endeavours.”

While the global search for a new CEO has begun, ASTRI’s Chief Operating Officer Dr Martin Szeto and Chief Technology Officer Dr Lucas Hui will jointly assume the responsibilities of leading Hong Kong’s largest applied technology research institute during the interim.

[Hong Kong, 30 December 2020] The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) has scooped a “Top Talent Team” Award from professional recruitment platform, LinkedIn. ASTRI recruits local as well as global professionals as it conducts innovative applied technology research projects, solve problems for the industry and improve the quality of life in Hong Kong.

Mr Hugh Chow, ASTRI’s Chief Executive Officer, said “Every research institute in the world is vying to hire outstanding innovative and technology professionals. ASTRI’s Talent Acquisition Team has been working tirelessly to identify and hire talents across the globe. People are the most important asset of ASTRI and, with these world class professionals, we are able to carry out cutting-edge research projects in a sustainable manner.”

Ms San Lee, Head of ASTRI’s Talent Acquisition, was delighted with the award which she believed was also a recognition to ASTRI’s talent recruitment strategies. “Over the years, ASTRI has achieved outstanding results in applied technology research, with more than 850 patents and numerous local and international awards. These achievements are only possible with the outstanding researchers that we have so we attach great importance to recruiting, retaining and cultivating talents,” Ms Lee said, adding that her team will continue to keep abreast of the latest recruitment trends and formulate effective strategies to bring in technology experts.

ASTRI recruits through multiple channels, including various online platforms, introducing ASTRI’s mission and job opportunities to professionals around the world, and inviting them to follow ASTRI’s social platforms with a view to getting them familiarised with the company.

ASTRI was founded by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2000 with the mission of enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness in technology-based industries through applied research. It focuses on five areas of application: Smart City; Financial Technologies; Intelligent Manufacturing; Health Technologies; and Application Specific Integrated Circuits.

ASTRI brings together the finest minds from all over the world: about half of ASTRI’s researchers have master’s degree qualifications or above and about a quarter have a doctoral degree. Besides, ASTRI has successfully attracted people with lofty ideals to join, cooperate and exchange with talents coming from a diverse background, in hopes of developing new technologies and formulating technological solutions.

ASTRI is committed to developing talent in the I&T sector. In September, ASTRI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Hong Kong (HKU) to develop the Technology Oriented Practitioner (TOP) programme, a Work-Study Scheme for first-year students enrolled on the MSc programme in FinTech and Data Analytics at HKU, with ASTRI providing paid full-time employment for up to 30 students for a nine-month period and assigning them to one of ASTRI’s many ongoing FinTech projects. Working with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, ASTRI launched the FinTech Career Accelerator Scheme in 2016, aiming to cultivate the future talent necessary to sustain Hong Kong’s banking, finance and business services, as well as preserving our city’s competitiveness as an international finance hub. Students receive an internship at financial institutions or technology companies and in the past four years, more than 500 have taken part. This year, the HKMA received more than 1,400 applications, nearly twice as many as last year.

Also in September this year, ASTRI launched its Graduate Programme 2020, providing full-time employment to graduates and an opportunity to work closely with its award-winning researchers. ASTRI also offers a three-month blockchain accelerator programme, in partnership with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park and Molecular Hub, as well as summer internships, which took in 42 students from 15 universities across the world in 2020.

LinkedIn presented the “Top Talent Team” award to ASTRI at its annual awards ceremony, commending ASTRI for introducing themselves professionally on the platform, and efficiently using its account to acquire talents and communicate with them.

Members of the ASTRI’s Talent Acquisition team include Ms San Lee, Ms Sarah Hun, Ms Jennifer Leung, Mr Patrick Wong, Ms Polly Pang, Mr Daniel Lam and Mr Matthew Chang.

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Caption:

Photo_001: ASTRI’s Talent Acquisition Team was awarded the 2020 “Top Talent Team” Award by LinkedIn.

[Hong Kong, 29 December 2020] “The Invincible Bond of Technology and Client Collaboration” has been vividly demonstrated at the Business of IP Asia (BIP Asia) Forum , which, during a panel session, explored the invaluable relationship The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) creates with its clients and partners and the important role it holds in Hong Kong’s innovation and technology ecosystem.

The panel discussion, moderated by ASTRI Chief Operating Officer Dr Martin Szeto, featured Mr Victor Wong, Chief Executive Officer of Bridge AI; Mr Andy Ho, Managing Director of Nexplore Hong Kong; Mr Albert Lo, Chief Architect at Nova Credit Limited; and Mr Daniel Au, Chief Executive Officer of Tectonic Technology Innovation Company Limited. The panellists highlighted the essential role of collaboration to our technological advancement and the value ASTRI, as Hong Kong’s largest applied technology research and development (R&D) centre, brings to its partners.

Dr Szeto asked the panellists to share their insights on working with ASTRI, and how their collaboration with ASTRI had helped solve their pain points.

Together with ASTRI, Bridge AI launched Hong Kong’s first distance-learning app for special educational needs (SEN) students in 2020. Mr Victor Wong described the ASTRI team as “very helpful”.

“ASTRI’s team not only looked at what we needed but was also able to think ahead about the much bigger picture to provide a service for Bridge AI,” Mr Wong said. A Bridge AI SEN solution, supported by ASTRI technology, won the silver medal of Community Outreach Award in eLearning Forum Asia 2020, the only team from Hong Kong to win a medal in this category.

Mr Andy Ho from Nexplore Hong Kong emphasised the importance of reliable solutions to their work in the construction sector.

“We wanted robust solutions to improve productivity and safety on-site,” Mr Ho said. “We wanted to identify good partners because we are not just talking about money or data, we are talking about lives. Keeping everyone on our site safe is a priority. We really liked ASTRI’s coverage… from our earliest meetings they came up with solutions and quick demos. We loved that very much – the proactive team and collaborations.”

Mr Albert Lo from Nova Credit Limited was impressed with ASTRI’s expertise, reputation and high-quality work.

“The entire experience with ASTRI has been brilliant,” said Mr Lo. “ASTRI has been in the industry for a long time and it knows our pain points as well as we do – perhaps even better.”

Mr Lo also had some advice for anyone else looking to work with ASTRI in the future, especially those in the financial sector.

“ASTRI has a unique position; you can trust them with your secrets. There will be a time when ASTRI has heard of something you should look at. Get your idea right and be open with ASTRI from the beginning,” he advised.

Mr Daniel Au from Tectonic Technology Innovation Company explained how his company had the idea to create an online IP protection and trading system about seven years ago and realised that blockchain would provide an effective solution.

“Eventually, we found ASTRI,” said Mr Au. “Our experience was great, ASTRI’s researchers worked well with us to solve the pain points and implement innovative ideas to strive for improvement.”

In concluding this session, Dr Szeto reiterated ASTRI’s commitment to Hong Kong’s innovation and technology ecosystem. “There is always a way to collaborate,” he said. “When we start engaging [on a project], we do not only look at the commercial side. Our mission is to improve competitiveness (of our client’s business), so we will dive deep into our client’s business, understand its needs, and then work with our clients to find solutions.”

To date, ASTRI has transferred nearly 750 technologies to the industries and been granted more than 850 patents in the Mainland, the US and other countries.

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Caption:

Photo_001: (From left) Mr Victor Wong, Mr Albert Lo, Dr Martin Szeto, Mr Andy Ho and Mr Daniel Au joined the panel discussion themed “The Invincible Bond of Technology and Client Collaboration”.

Hong Kong, 23 December 2020] The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) will showcase a wide range of research achievements in promoting the smart city development in Hong Kong through online seminars and exhibitions, at the virtual InnoCarnival 2020 hosted by the Innovation and Technology Commission.

The Cellular Vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) technology is an important component for 5G to enable smart mobility applications and enhance road safety, with a view to connecting vehicles, pedestrians and roadside facilities through wireless transmission. This technology is capable of detecting imminent dangers on the roads (such as vehicles tangling, and the driver’s line of sight is blocked by objects while there are vehicles in the adjacent lane) and issuing real-time alerts to drivers via C-V2X communication between vehicles and roadside infrastructure to avoid accidents. C-V2X is also a prerequisite for making autonomous driving safe and popular. ASTRI will showcase its autonomous driving technology at the InnoCarnival 2020 from 23 – 31 December, 2020.

In addition, ASTRI will introduce the Augmented Reality (AR) Near Eye Display Technology with smart optoelectronics as the core technology in addition to the AR system. It will adopt 5G network to superimpose a computer-generated image on a user’s perception of the real world. The technology can also be deployed for industrial applications. By using AR glasses and a visual and depth sensing platform, onsite technicians can access real-time data, a troubleshooting log, and graphics and encrypted data from backend systems anytime, anywhere. Remote support experts can view streamed real-time images transmitted from AR glasses being worn by onsite technicians through the AR operation console and offer advice.

ASTRI will also demonstrate the iGem Guard which won a silver award in Smart Living of the Hong Kong ICT Award 2020. The Ramen spectrometer can distinguish the category, authenticity and rank of more than 3,000 different kinds of gems in just three seconds, and its price is much lower than the conventional ones. ASTRI is striving to expand the application of the spectrometer for other purposes, such as installing it on mobile devices for public usage, testing the quality of surgical masks, hand sanitisers, herbal medicines and cosmetics, or detecting air quality and any substance change in water sources. ASTRI will exhibit a mobile spectrometer that can easily distinguish true and fake coloured lamps, tungsten lamps, fluorescent lamps, energy-saving lamps and LED lamps, which can be used in production processes to assist engineers in verifying the quality of light sources, and to help consumers choose healthy light sources that fulfil the blue and ultraviolet light standard.

Researchers from ASTRI will demonstrate these leading-edge technologies through online seminars at the InnoCarnival 2020. Interested parties can sign up for seminars on the event website: https://innocarnival.hk/. Other research projects being showcased by ASTRI include: automated form processing system-recognising handwritten Chinese characters, direct current building, artificial intelligence medical platform and blockchain technology.

The InnoCarnival 2020 is being held under the theme of “Collaborate．Innovate．Beyond Imagination.” Online registration can be done on the official website, at https://innocarnival.hk/.

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Captions:

Photo_001: At present, drivers’ view may be blocked by other vehicles and thus fail to notice pedestrians crossing the road. With the C-V2X system, the device (as indicated on the right) can recognise the blocked object and issue real-time alerts to drivers.

Photo_002: Wearing of the 4Kx2K AR head-mounted display enables a user to feel like as if she/he is physically on the scene.

Photo_003: The iGem Guard can distinguish the category, authenticity and rank of the gems in just three seconds.

[Hong Kong, 6 December 2020] The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) has won a Silver Award for Smart Living for its iGem Guard Raman spectrometer, and a Bronze Award for Smart Mobility with its gantry free Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) from the Hong Kong Information and Communications Technology Awards (ICT Awards) 2020.

Dr Lucas Hui, ASTRI’s Chief Technology Officer, was very pleased with the outstanding achievement of the winning teams. “Our technology can be applied extensively to improve quality and efficiency of enterprises while benefiting the lives of our citizens. One of the significant benefits is about enhancing the quality of products which helps strengthen consumer confidence and trust which is a key factor that sets Hong Kong apart and builds its reputation. We are deeply honoured to receive the awards and I would like to thank our R&D professionals for their endeavours and perseverance to make this significant breakthrough. They certainly are living up to ASTRI’s mission and values.”

The cost-efficient and portable iGem Guard can distinguish the category, authenticity and rank of more than 3,000 different kinds of gems in just three seconds.

Dr Chun Zhang, ASTRI’s Director of Sensing Devices and Integration, IoT and Sensors, who led the research, said: “We will continue to strive for innovative ways to expand the application of the Raman spectrometer for other purposes, such as food and health product safety, installing it on mobile devices for public usage, testing the quality of surgical masks, hand sanitisers, herbal medicines and cosmetics, or detecting any substance change in water sources.”

Applying state-of-the-art mini three-band laser spectroscopy technology, the iGem Guard is equipped with adaptive and accurate sensors and intelligent algorithms. Through the process of one-touch optical inspection, the device can swiftly determine whether a diamond is natural or synthetic; whether a jadeite is classified as “Grade A” or chemically-processed (“Grade B” or “Grade C”); whether a pearl is formed in freshwater or saltwater.

ASTRI has taken advantage of its expertise to select suitable and fine optical components, developing a spectrometer that would fit in the palms of two hands, which is about 20 times smaller than conventional ones. The relevant patented mini-spectrometer technology was awarded a Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury at last year’s International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva.

The team used a variety of jewellery samples from the industry to build a database consisting of a great variety of gems and minerals. Each device costs between HK$100,000 and HK$200,000. Provided that only a single type of jewellery is tested, the price can be further reduced to HK$50,000. Meanwhile, it can store spectral information, photos and descriptions of jewellery in a classified manner to facilitate inventory management.

The judging panel praised the iGem Guard for bringing promising influence to the local jewellery industry. The roadmap in tailoring the devices in mini and micro sizes could further benefit a larger group of users, assisting small-scaled jewellery shops and individual jewellery collectors for identification and management purposes.

The award-winning ultra-wide broadband (UWB) + vehicle-to-everything (V2X) ERP System did not require setting of the enormous gantries to detect vehicles passing by to initiate charges during rush hours, with an aim to tackling traffic congestion in central business area through diversion.

Dr Billy Chan, ASTRI’s Deputy Director of cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) and coordinator of this project, said “It is our honour to receive the support and affirmation of the panel, providing lots of professional and valuable opinions. Our system has also been recognised by the industry, which helps pave the way for ASTRI and its industry partners, Hong Kong Telecommunications and Genvict, to further develop smart mobility and the C-V2X technology.” ASTRI has successfully tested this system with its partners. Trial runs have been conducted in several cities in the Greater Bay Area. ASTRI will explore with stakeholders on the feasibility of implementing this system in Hong Kong.

ASTRI is a market pioneer in combining C-V2X and UWB technology to enable the precise estimation of position. ASTRI uses existing roadside infrastructure, thereby eliminating the need to build expensive gantries and laying of optical fibres as well as reducing the number of sensors required, with a view to effectively reducing the time and cost in adopting the ERP system. In addition to this, the system is easy to install and transfer, and can be adjusted when necessary.

The advantageous nature of V2X and UWB allow the system to perform real-time and reliable smart transport management to accurately locate the vehicles with low battery consumption, which can also ensure data security and protect user privacy.

The judging panel praised the UWB+V2X roadside system in achieving breakthrough in ERP, providing a cost-effective, brand new and flexible solution for areas with long-term traffic congestion problem. The system can facilitate in-city traffic management with a view to enhancing the mobility of Hong Kong.

Established in 2006, The Hong Kong ICT Awards aims at recognising and promoting outstanding Information and Communications Technology (ICT) inventions and applications.

ASTRI Sensing Devices and Integration team members involved in the development of the iGem Guard include: Ms Chow Yeung-ming; Ms Cheung Hoi-ching; Ms Wu Meng-ting; Ms Cheung Siu-lai; Dr Wong Ka-chun; and Mr Woo Ka-ki.

Team members involved in the devise of the ERP system include: Mr Mui Kai-ho, Mr Hou Xiao-jia ; Dr Cheung Yin-ping; Ms Xia Hua; Ms Lee Yik-tung; Mr Wong Long-hei; Mr Chai Yu-liang; Mr Su Dong-zhe; Mr Chen Hang; and Mr Zhou Zi-gan.

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Captions:

001: Dr Chun Zhang’s team develops a device to distinguish gems in three seconds.

002: ASTRI’s gantry-free Electronic Road Pricing System operates by sensors on roadside facilities such as the white device on the lamppost in the background and the device being held by Dr Billy Chan which is installed in vehicles.

[Hong Kong, 2 Dec 2020] With a view to promoting the close collaboration of industry, universities and research institutes within the “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area – Sichuan Province”, enhancing the ability of the two areas to transform scientific and technological achievements, promoting the collaborative innovation of science and technology, and jointly creating a technological innovation highland and an important source of emerging industries, the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) and the City University of Hong Kong Chengdu Research Institute (CityUCRI) recently held a signing ceremony for a memorandum of understanding (MOU).

Mr Hugh CHOW, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, and Professor Jian LU, the then Vice-President (Research and Technology) of CityU and Director of CityUCRI, signed the MOU on behalf of the institutions.

Ir Sunny LEE Wai-Kwong, JP, Chairman of ASTRI and Vice-President (Administration) of CityU; Dr Lucas HUI Chi-Kwong, Chief Technology Officer of ASTRI; Dr Martin SZETO, Chief Operating Officer of ASTRI; Professor Michael YANG, Vice-President (Research and Technology) of CityU; and Dr Laura LO, Associate Vice-President (Chinese Mainland Affairs Office) of CityU attended the ceremony and witnessed the signing.

Mr MA Jun, Director of New Economy and Technology Bureau, Shuangliu District of the Chengdu Municipal Government, Sichuan Province, Deputy Director Mr LI Ji, and Dr FENG Hao, Associate Director of CityUCRI, witnessed the ceremony through video links from Chengdu.

(From left, front row) ASTRI CEO Mr Hugh CHOW and Professor Jian LU.
(From Left, back row) Dr Martin SZETO, Dr Lucas HUI, Ir Sunny LEE, Professor Michael YANG, Dr Laura LO and Ms Carmen NG from CityU.

In accordance with the MOU, ASTRI and CityUCRI will cooperate in three major areas: communications technologies, artificial intelligence and big data analytics, and integrated circuits and systems. The parties plan to build a scientific research collaboration platform, hold regular academic forums in professional fields, jointly promote the implementation and commercialisation of their scientific and technological achievements, and cultivate technological talents, in order to deepen the scientific exchanges and strengthen complementary advantages and resource sharing, contributing to the mutual benefits between Sichuan and Hong Kong.

The parties have also established a three-year cooperation plan which includes holding large-scale exchange activities to showcase the scientific research outcomes of ASTRI and CityU to Mainland enterprises and promoting the commercialisation of their scientific research outcomes. When appropriate, ASTRI and CityU will jointly apply for Sichuan Province scientific research projects; and the parties also plan to establish a joint laboratory or a knowledge transfer centre located at the CityUCRI.

The MOU signing ceremony in Hong Kong

Professor Lu pointed out in his speech that CityU and ASTRI had established a solid scientific and technological cooperation relationship. He said the signing of the MOU symbolised a deeper and broader cooperation and development, which would provide innovative and high-quality technology services to Shuangliu District, Chengdu, and other cities in Sichuan province. He believed, on this solid basis of cooperation, CityU and ASTRI would join hands and carry out holistic collaboration in multiple fields and at multiple levels and establish a long-term stable relationship with deep friendship.

Mr Chow said the signing ceremony was an important milestone in the deepening of cooperation between the two parties, marking a new level of collaboration which promotes the close integration of industry, academia, and scientific research institutions in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Sichuan. ASTRI, as the largest applied innovation and technology R&D centre funded by the government of Hong Kong, is committed to promoting innovation, with the mission of enhancing the competitiveness of Hong Kong’s technology-based industry and improving the lives of citizens. Mr Chow said that through this cooperation, ASTRI was pleased to bring high-quality scientific research outcomes to enterprises in Chengdu. ASTRI looked forward to the collaboration between the two parties in achieving more breakthroughs. Mr Chow also expressed his gratitude toward the leaders of Shuangliu District for their support in providing solid backing for the cooperation between ASTRI, CityU, and Sichuan enterprises. He hoped that everyone would work together to forge ahead and contribute to national development through scientific research.

Director MA emphasised that this MOU had deepened the cooperation and strengthened the sharing of resources between Sichuan and Hong Kong. It has a positive impact on promoting the aggregation of advantageous industrial chains in Shuangliu District and the development of industry-city integration. He pointed out that Shuangliu, as an important bearing site for the national-level Tianfu New District, Sichuan Free Trade Pilot Zone, and Chengdu Airport Economic Demonstration Zone, has become a hotspot for entrepreneurship, investment and development. He said the Shuangliu New Economy and Technology Bureau would continue to provide outstanding services and build an industrial ecosystem. With the goal of win-win development, the Bureau will spare no effort in building a “bridge of cooperation between Sichuan and Hong Kong” and creating a better tomorrow and a better future for all parties.

(From left) Mr LI Ji, Mr MA Jun, Dr FENG Hao and Ms Sarah MIAO witnessed the ceremony through video links.

Cooperation background

As one of the strategic development platforms of City University of Hong Kong on the Mainland, the City University of Hong Kong Chengdu Research Institute (CityUCRI) is also the first industry-university-research cooperation platform of CityU in western China. It aims to build a “Hong Kong-Shenzhen-Chengdu” science and technology corridor and act as a “super-connector” in order to attract more superior cutting-edge scientific and technological achievements in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to settle in Chengdu.

The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) was founded by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2000 with the mission of enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness in technology-based industries through applied research. To date, ASTRI has transferred almost 750 technologies to the industries and has been granted more than 850 patents on the Mainland, in the US and other countries.

(Hong Kong, 26 Nov 2020) The Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) has expressed its full support to the Chief Executive’s 2020 Policy Address and welcomed new initiatives in bolstering the development of innovation and technology (I&T) in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.

Ir Sunny Lee, JP, Chairman of ASTRI, said: “We are truly excited to see the various policy initiatives outlined by the Chief Executive in developing Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology hub. Being the largest government-funded R&D centre in Hong Kong for applied science and technology, ASTRI is committed to continuing to create impactful innovations and becoming a major technology enabler, helping Hong Kong develop as a pioneering Smart City.”

Set up by the SAR Government in 2000, ASTRI’s mission is to enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness in technology-based industries through applied research.

Mr Hugh Chow, CEO of ASTRI, added: “We welcome and support new initiatives such as the Smart City Blue Print for Hong Kong 2.0, Greater Bay Area Youth Employment Scheme, Smart Mobility, network development and wider application of 5G, among many others. These are exciting developments and I’m confident, with ASTRI’s expertise and experience in many of these areas, we can make a significant contribution in supporting the SAR Government as well as the I&T ecosystem.”

ASTRI’s core R&D competence in various areas is grouped under five Technology Divisions: Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics; Communications; Cybersecurity, Cryptography and Trusted Technologies; Integrated Circuits and Systems; and IoT and Sensors. It is applied across five cores areas which are Smart City, Financial Technologies, Intelligent Manufacturing, Health Technologies, and Application Specific Integrated Circuits.

Over the years, ASTRI has nurtured a pool of research, I&T talents and received numerous international awards for its pioneering innovations as well as outstanding business and community contributions. To date, ASTRI has transferred more than 750 technologies to the industries and owns nearly 850 patents in the Mainland, the US and other countries.

[Hong Kong, 22 November 2020] To cater to the needs of the elderly in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) is developing a smart companion pet dog which can chat in Cantonese and Mandarin and can even remind the elderly to take their medicine when the Bluetooth function is enabled. The smart pet dog is expected to be launched in phases next year, and is expected to sell for less than HKD 1,500 each. Eligible local elderly and rehabilitation service units can apply to the Social Welfare Department for the “Innovation and Technology Fund for Application in Elderly and Rehabilitation Care” and get subsidies for their purchase.

ASTRI introduced the smart pet dog during the four-day Gerontech and Innovation Expo cum Summit 2020 from 19 – 22 November.

ASTRI has been applying its cutting-edge technology and innovation to address pain points in our society. This smart pet dog can support elderly care as Hong Kong faces challenges associated with an ageing population.

Mr. Fanky Yau, project coordinator and Associate Principal Engineer at ASTRI, said that through the subsidy of Innovation and Technology Fund for Application in Elderly and Rehabilitation Care provided by the Social Welfare Department, ASTRI introduced the smart pet dog which originally had Japanese language capabilities to Hong Kong with a view to enhancing and localising it to suit the needs of the elderly here. About 200 to 300 sets of Cantonese and Putonghua dialogues will be added to the smart pet dog so that it can “listen” to the elderly in Hong Kong and the Mainland and respond accordingly. Such response can include caring and greeting the host, as well as greeting and talking in a cute manner. At the beginning of next year, the team will collaborate with the Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Service to arrange smart pet dogs to be companions for hundreds of elderly people who live alone and stay in day care centres, community centres and elderly homes to better understand the needs of the elderly in Hong Kong and optimise their conversations.

Mr Yau said already a company has indicated interest in commercialising the smart pet dog. It is expected to be sold in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and other parts of China in phases from mid-2021 onwards, he added.

ASTRI will further incorporate Bluetooth functions for the smart pet dog to enhance its functionality. “The caregiver will only need to enter the medication time for the elderly through a mobile app, then the smart pet dog will remind the elderly to take the medication on time and will also ask if they have taken them, and finally report back to the caregiver through the app,” he said.

He also said that other organisations can develop more applications in the future based on ASTRI’s application programming interface. And through Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT), one can further enhance the functions of the smart pet dog, such as continuously monitoring and analysing the responses and the speed of speech of the elderly while chatting, thus enabling social workers and family members to better understand the elderly’s health status.

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Captions:

SmartPet_01：ASTRI Associate Principal Engineer Mr. Fanky Yau hopes that the smart pet will be popular in the community.

SmartPet_02：ASTRI staff members introduce the smart pet to visitors of the Gerontech and Innovation Expo cum Summit 2020.

[Hong Kong, 11 November 2020] The Impact Conference, celebrating Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute’s (ASTRI) 20^th anniversary, was successfully held today. Thought leaders shared their views on the development of innovation and technology and its impact with audiences online, bringing insights to the industry and providing impetus to Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem.

Captions:

Photo_01: (From left) Mr Hugh Chow, ASTRI CEO; Ms Annie Choi Suk-han, Permanent Secretary for Innovation and Technology; Mr Paul Chan Mo-po, Financial Secretary; Ir Sunny Lee, ASTRI Chairman; and Ms Rebecca Pun Ting-ting, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, officiated at the opening ceremony of ASTRI’s Impact Conference.

 

Photo_02: Mr Paul Chan Mo-po, Financial Secretary, delivered opening remarks for ASTRI’s Impact Conference.